Diving apparatus.



J. L. WATSDN. DIVING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAIL-2'5. 1908.

9045241 PatentedNov. 17 1908.

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JOHN WATSON, OF LOS ANGELES,CALIFORNIA.

DIVING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

Application filed January 25, 1908. I SerialNo. 412,675.

"object, but with greater ease and efficiency.

Another object is to provide communication between the operator in the diving apparatus and an operator on the deck of the vessel so that when the operator in the diving apparatus locates an object on the bottom of the sea that is to be removed, he can communicate that fact to the operator on the vessel, who can anchor a buoy at this point so that the object may subsequently be found without the time or trouble of locating the same,

thereby enabling an operator in an ordinary divers suit to go down from a vessel and recover such object.

Another object is to provide means whereby the operator in the diving apparatus can release his bell from the weights so that in case ofaccident to the suspending cables he .can cause the bell to rise to the surface of the water.

A still further object is to provide guards for the arms of the operator so as to prevent injury thereto from sharks or other sea animals.

I accomplish these objects by the mechanism described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my diving ap aratus in working position in the water an secured to a boat at anchor. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the diving bell as used for locating purposes. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the diving bell in condition for use. Fig. 4 is a side elevation positioned for use with guards at the front and side for the protection of the operators hands and arms, the supporting cable being omitted. Fig. 5 is a similar view of Fig. 4 with the front guard omitted.

In the drawings 10 is a vessel adapted for usedin'a'n'y business in which a diving bell is use 11 is a diving bell which provided with a plurality of look-out or (lead lights 12 through which the operator in the bell may observe the bottom of the ocean or any object resting thereon. These ports are provided in the front, sides, back and in the bottom of the projecting top part, so that as the bell is moved along, when locating, the operator can turn around and view the bottom of the ocean in-any direction that he desires.

13 is the operating cable which is secured to the diving bell and is operated from the vessel in the usual well known manner.

14 is a derrick upon the vessel which is used in operating the diving bell.

To guard against accident I provide an auxiliary cable 15 by means of which the diving 'bell may be brought to the deck of the vessel in case the operating cable should be broken accidentall 16 is the air hose which-is provided with a valve 17 on the inner end, so that in case the hose is punctured the valve may be closed to prevent water from flooding-the bell.

18 is a check valve in the top. portion of the bell which prevents the water from entering the bell and is provided with a stem 19 which projects downwardly in the bell so that the operator can open the same to let out the air at any time the same becomes impure or too highly heated.

20 is a telephone line which connects an instrument 21 in the bell with an instrument in the vessel not shown, so that the operator in the bell can communicate with an operator in the vessel.

22 are flexible waterproof sleeves, preferably of rubber, which the operator secures around his wrists so that the water cannot enter into the sleeves. The other ends of these sleeves are fastened to the inside of the bell in water-tight contact therewith.

\Vhen the bell is being used for locating purposes a removable cover 23' is securely fastened to the front of the central portion of the bell so as to cover an opening 24; therein through which opening the sleeves and arms of the operator are projected when he is using the bell for work other than location work.

To counter-balance the buoyancy of the bell weights 25 are provided which are hung upon a rope 26, the ends of which are secured to the bell. As many of these weights are secured upon the rope as may be required to counter-balance the buoyancy of the bell at the depth at which it is to be used, more or less weights being required according to depth of water.

27 is a sheath secured upon the side of the bell, in which is removably secured a knife 28 which can be reached by the hands of the operator so that in case of accident to the supporting cables he can cut the weight holding rope and thereby release the weights A and thus be enabled to rise to the surface of the water.

29 are side shields to protect'the arms of.

the operator from being attacked by-sharks or other sea animals from the sides, while the operator is at work, and 30 is a removable front section which is detachably secured to theside shield to prevent like attacks from-the front.

31 is a basket or bagwhich is secured to the bell convenient to the arms of the operator so that he can place therein articles which he secures from the bottom of the sea and desires to have removed to the vessel;

By this eonstructionan operator can be slowly carried along by a small launch or vessel and kept near the bottom of the sea where he can locate anything that it may be desired to remove and he can communicate with the operator on the vessel who can 10- cate the object by a buoy, as for instance a bed of sponges or a bed of shells, and subsequertly another vessel carrying a large equipment of divers and diving apparatus can remove objects thus located, thus saving the time and expense ordinarily incumbent on such enterprises. The bell may be used by an operator while scraping thehull of a vessel.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a diving apparatus, the combination of a bell having a working chamber provided with an aperture in the lower central portion thereof; flexible waterproof sleeves secured within said chamber and'adapted to project therefrom; detachable side shields secured to said bell at each side of said aperture and projecting downwardly therefrom.

4. In a diving apparatus, the combination of a bell having a working chamber provided with an aperture in the lower central portion thereof; flexible Waterproof sleeves secured within said chamber and adapted'to project therefrom; detachable side shields secured to said bell at each side of said aperture and projecting downwardly therefrom; and a detachable front shield secured to said side shields. T

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 17th day of January, 1908.

J OHN L. WATSON.

Witnesses:

G; E. HARPHAM, S. B. AUSTIN. 

